Jake Owen was welcomed home by adoring fans during a jam-packed weekend titled ‘The Flamingo’ to benefit the Jake Owen Foundation, which supports local youth nonprofit organizations and the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis.
The main event was a sold-out Flamingo Jam concert, held Saturday, Oct. 9 at the Corporate Air hangar at the Vero Beach Regional Airport. Never one to disappoint his hometown fans, Owen brought along nine of his singer/songwriter friends to wow the audience.
Ever humble and willing to share the spotlight, he proudly introduced each of the performers and shared personal anecdotes about their relationships.
Mississippi-born siblings Delaney, Zachary and Erika Daves of the Daves Highway band opened the evening’s performances with their musical blend of what people in the South call ‘blood harmony.’ Next, Ryan Hurd belted out one of his newest hits, “Tab with My Name on It,” and Vero’s own Scotty Emerick took to the stage to sing alongside Owen.
Throughout the evening Owen introduced other country artists, songwriters and up-and-coming performers, providing the audience with a variety of sounds and styles, all in the spirit of charity.
“I have a lot of friends in Nashville, and I’m thrilled to have them here tonight,” said Owen, flashing his charismatic smile. “You know, living in Nashville is exciting and humbling at the same time because you are surrounded by people better than you.”
While that statement may have reflected Owen’s homegrown unpretentiousness, his fans would most assuredly disagree.
Owen quickly had the crowd up on their feet, dancing in the aisles to his highly energetic performance. And then there was that special ‘that’s our song moment’ when he sang his hit song “Beachin’.” The Vero audience, claiming it as their own, sang along with personal pride.
Owen has supported the Vero Beach community philanthropically since 2006, soon after releasing his debut studio album, “Startin’ with Me.” The nonprofit Jake Owen Foundation was established in 2010 to offer support to children’s-related charities on a national and local level.
Nationally, the foundation supports children battling cancer at the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and has recently begun providing funding to organizations around the country; and locally to numerous Indian River County youth organizations and charities, including the Boys & Girls Clubs, Youth Guidance, Hibiscus Children’s Center, and the Education Foundation.
“The foundation has given away over $3.5 million in the past decade,” said Jake’s twin brother, Jarrod Owen, who serves as president of the foundation.
“This is actually the 11th anniversary of the foundation, but Jake has been giving charity concerts since before its inception,” he said, adding that the Flamingo weekend would support more than a dozen local charities.
“His first concert was held in the Vero Beach High School auditorium, and then moved to Riverside Theatre, Dodgertown, the high school stadium, the Indian River County Fairgrounds and now the Corporate Air hangar. We found the fans preferred a more intimate experience and the protection of an indoor venue where weather isn’t a factor. This year’s concert sold out in less than 48 hours.”
The Flamingo weekend had kicked off with a cocktail reception at the Quail Valley River Club for players who would be participating the next day in the Flamingo Golf Classic at the Quail Valley Golf Club.
“Well, it’s always good to have him back home because we don’t get to see him as much with him being on the road all the time, so that part is great,” said Jake’s father, Steve Owen.
“But one of the things that I’m most proud of that he’s done, is that he does take the time to come back and do his annual concert for local charities and St. Jude. There’s a lot of people that have the platform that he has that won’t take the time to do that. But growing up in Vero I think it’s very important to him to come back to town. And to me, that’s something that I really take pride in.”
The weekend also included a Flamingo Fishing Tournament, and gave the stage to up-and-coming songwriters at showcase events at Waldo’s, Vero Beach Hotel and Spa and Riverside Café.
For more information, visit JakeOwenFoundation.org.
Photos by Kaila Jones
